Albert Grindle
The Gazette
YORK TWP. — A seven-minute car drive from Buckeye High to home was enough for Ron Clady to end his self-imposed coaching hiatus.
The LiverpoolTownship resident stepped down in 2009 after 10 seasons as Wellington girls basketball coach to focus on his three children, immediately going from the varsity sideline to T-ball, soccer and youth basketball.
When the Buckeye girls basketball position opened earlier this month, he saw the golden opportunity to get back in the game.
Clady replaces Bucks graduate Randy Haury, who was 39-73 over five seasons, and was introduced to the team Wednesday after school.
“I love basketball and I’ve been wanting to get back into coaching at this level for a while, but I waited until my kids were older,” Clady said. “My daughter just got done with sixth grade and the boys with second grade, and getting the opportunity to coach in the district I live in was quite an attraction. It all worked out.
“At least for a year being at Wellington and being a teacher there, it was hard going by the gym while they were practicing,” he added. “It was tough. It was painful because I felt like we had built it up and we had to step away, but I am very, very happy I did it because I got to spend a lot of time with my kids.”
Clady won more than 100 games at Wellington from 1999-2009. Prior to that, he was the Dukes’ junior varsity coach and a middle school coach at Western Reserve.
Clady will remain a math teacher at Wellington High, where he also was the boys golf coach.
The Bucks have posted a 78-118 record since their last winning season in 2005-06 but are slated to return first-team All-Patriot Athletic Conference Stars Division guard Kayla Glancy and fellow rotation members Alexa Eisenbrown (second-team All-Stars Division), Olivia Hartley (honorable mention All-Stars Division), Morgan Hama, Kaitlyn Hubeny, Katie Lyons and Maddie Smith.
Making the future appear bright was the lower levels experiencing success. The junior varsity was 15-7, while the seventh- and eighth-grade teams each finished second in the PAC.
“First and foremost, it was a combination of the community and how Buckeye has supported athletics,” Clady said. “The kids that I see around, it was a positive situation. That’s what drew me the most. I felt like I could bring passion and communication, and I’m in it for the long haul.
“(I saw) we had kids who wanted to work out and get stronger and start to play. We have girls with experience and natural ability.”
Clady said he prefers a full-court style with a rotation of at least eight players, but his first focus is breathing new life into the program.
With the aforementioned three children and a residence within the district, Clady stressed he’s all about long-term growth.
“If we can come together as one unit — and I’m talking (grades) 9-12 with one philosophy, one commitment and one pride of the system and school — that’s what I’m here for,” he said. “Hopefully, that will draw kids in and (they’ll) play hard.”
Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721-4043 or agrindle@medina-gazette.com.
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